Samuel S.C. trace their roots back to the early ’90s DIY circuit, when they first emerged in State College as Samuel. Born from the ashes of Downing’s previous band Junction, the group quickly became a fixture of the era’s emo and post-hardcore scene, touring relentlessly alongside Avail, Promise Ring, Chamberlain, Anti-Flag, Grain, Kerosene 454, and countless others. At the time, Samuel also served as the flagship band for drummer Eric Astor’s Art Monk Construction label, which issued several now-revered 7-inch releases, including my personal favorite: the Hoover/Lincoln split.
Although an untimely breakup in 1995 cut their initial run short, Samuel left an outsized impression thanks to powerful live shows and hook-driven releases that bridged punk, emo, and post-hardcore before those lines were clearly drawn. Vocalist Vanessa Downing’s presence as a young, openly queer woman was especially significant within the DIY and hardcore scenes of the era, running parallel to the riot grrrl movement and offering representation that inspired women, girls, and LGBTQ youth at a time when it was far from common.
The band reformed in 2021 under the name Samuel S.C., with the added initials signaling both a new beginning and a respectful nod to their origins. With longtime friendships intact and bassist Michael Honch of Continuals and Alarms & Controls joining the lineup, the band found renewed chemistry and space for new songwriting. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, Samuel S.C. have remained firmly focused on the present, approaching their past catalog as a foundation rather than a ceiling. Recent releases include the fiery two-song Exit Scene 7 on Landland Colportage in 2024 and a split 10-inch with Pohgoh on New Granada Records in 2025.
READ MORE: A Chat Between Women of '90s Emo: Tracy Wilson (Dahlia Seed, Positive No) + Susie Ulrey (Pohgoh)
Today, Samuel S.C. are preparing the next chapter with a new full-length expected in late 2026 via Expert Work Records and Sweet Cheetah Records. We’re premiering the first single from that LP, “Another Good Lie,” a song that finds Downing digging deep into memory and emotion. The song was recorded by none other than J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels) at his Magpie Cage Recording Studio in Baltimore:
Downing shared the following about the song:
“With melody and melancholy colliding so beautifully in the music of this song, I wanted the lyrics to mirror the driving emotional force of the instrumentation. ‘Another Good Lie’ is one my most directly personal works, calling upon the pain and poignancy of my early adolescence, and my journey as a young queer woman full of yearning and hope in the ’80s and ’90s.
"Ultimately the song isn’t about being young or queer so much as it is about the universal afflictions of insecurity, isolation and the inevitable unraveling of truths that only time can bring regardless of one’s age.”
In other Samuel S.C. happenings, the band will be joining D.C.'s Continuals and the aforementioned Pohgoh for a '90s inspired road trip on their way to Chicago's Several States festival (featuring Hey Mercedes, Rainer Maria, Sleepytime Trio, Ethel Meserve, and others). Pogoh will only appear on the 1/15, 1/16, 1/17 shows. All of the dates are listed below.
Samuel S.C.'s album is expected in late 2026 via Expert Work Records and Sweet Cheetah Records. Hit the Linktree to find all of the band's social media and merch.
Tour dates:
1/14 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant St.
1/15 - Louisville, KY @ Art Sanctuary
1/16 - Indianapolis, IN @ The 808/Indy CD & Vinyl
1/17 - Chicago, IL @ Ramova Theater (Several States festival)
1/18 - Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog
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